HC Deb 22 January 1959 vol 598 c388
15. Mr. Fitch

asked the Minister of Education which local education authorities at the present time automatically give a further education award, equivalent to a State scholarship, to all students who are accepted for admission to universities; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure a wider application of this procedure.

Sir E. Boyle

All authorities' approved schemes of awards provide for some form of selection. My right hon. Friend does not propose to alter the recommendations of Circular 263, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, until he has received and considered the report of the Committee now sitting under the chairmanship of Sir Colin Anderson.

Mr. Fitch

Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is better to give entrants to universities the maximum financial assistance than the minimum?

Sir E. Boyle

I think we all agree, on both sides of the House, that this is a very important question. I think it would be premature to accept that the procedure which the hon. Member advocates is necessarily the right one, but, of course, it is one of the possibilities which the Colin Anderson Committee will doubtless wish to consider.